Thursday, July 16, 2009

U.S. Foreign Aid Goes PEU?


Secretary of State Hillary Clinton indicated change in her foreign policy speech. The U.S. will:


"seek to deliver results by reaching out beyond governments to private groups and individuals."
Private groups and individuals. If campaign donors get an Ambassadorship, can they get State Department money? Now, who has a foundation or are big donors? Pete Peterson, Bill Clinton, Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, Mike Bloomberg, George Soros and Oprah Winfrey. Funny, The richest people in America recently conferenced on philanthropy. (Pete Peterson told FT he would soon meet with George Soros on philanthropy.)

Rumor has it the big money boys will be able to name their project and get matching taxpayer dollars. How much will go to former or current private equity underwriters (PEU's)? How might they steer public funds to affiliates? Who knew the Government-Industrial Monstrosity, Eisenhower's MIC on steroids, had a philanthropic side.

Hillary Clinton plans to continue America's pattern of bribing cooperation and punishing non compliance. That might open the door for American branded global corporations in various world markets. She said:


"...facts demand a different global architecture -- one in which states have clear incentives to cooperate and live up to their responsibilities, as well as strong disincentives to sit on the sidelines or sow discord and division."
It sounds remarkably like "you're either with us or against us." U.S. foreign aid could soon have a public-private partnership (PPP) component. I smell PPP's partnering with PEU's.

(Note: Foreign governments will get assistance in buying U.S. military equipment via a $67 million contract with The Carlyle Group's Booz, Allen, Hamilton. Carlyle's ARINC purchased military helicopters at premium prices for Iraq)

Update 4-23-15:  Foreign aid 's PEU face can be seen in foreign donations to The Clinton Foundation, which seemed to ensure positive action by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.